Miniature pneumatic parts made from custom rubber molding are powering a growing number of new medical devices, laboratory equipment and other devices that employ fluid power in small packages. These important components are responsible for controlling the flow and pressure of air and gases in such uses as ventilators, oxygen compressors and gas detectors. Rubber molding is often used to create seals and valves in miniature pneumatic parts that are required to function well in challenging environments, time after time.

For custom rubber molding of miniature pneumatics parts, success depends upon four operations:

Medical devices are in the forefront of the use of miniature pneumatic parts made from custom rubber molding, although other industries, such as process control, are also incorporating miniature pneumatics. For portable medical devices, parts such as miniature pneumatic solenoid valves are used where space and power are limited.

According to a white paper from the National Fluid Power Association, “Fluid power technology is adapting to the latest trends in medical device design by focusing on lightweight, portable, low power solutions and more precise control. Reducing power consumption, particularly for battery-operated equipment, has become an important factor, along with the ability to leverage more precise control and innovations in electro-pneumatic control.”

Applications for miniature pneumatics include

Anesthesia

Ventilators

Hematology

Urinalysis

Laboratory and analytical instruments

Miniature pumps

Dental equipment

Air logic and control

Gas detection

HVAC systems

Test equipment

Process control

Custom rubber molded parts for miniature pneumatics include

Integrated components of rubber bonded to metal or plastic inserts

Poppets

Valves

Seats

Diaphragms

Gaskets

Check valves

Operation #1: Material selection and custom rubber compounding

Miniature pneumatic parts must hold up under punishing environmental conditions, such as contact with hydrocarbons and other chemicals, high pressures and extreme temperatures. As a result, the materials that can be used in custom rubber molding for miniature pneumatics are typically limited to three families of elastomers: fluorocarbons, silicones and EPDM.

Three main types of elastomers for miniature pneumatics and their properties:

Fluorocarbons (Viton® and other FKMs)

Excellent chemical resistance to anesthesia gases and other hydrocarbons

Good durability and toughness with a long history in sealing applications

Excellent high temperature resistance to + 400 to 450F

General purpose fluorocarbons are not as strong at low temperatures but will function at temperatures as low as – 20F

Specialty and exotic FKMs can be compounded to perform in temperatures as low as – 40F but can be considerably more expensive

Silicones

Excellent high temperature resistance to + 400 to 450F

Excellent low temperature resistance to as low as – 60F

Poor resistance to hydrocarbons and noxious chemicals and may swell in those environments, but can be used in applications involving air

Can be compounded to remain soft, which allows seals to work with a very low amount of force or pressure

Wears well but has poor tear and abrasion resistance

EPDM

Temperature resistance ranging from – 60F to + 300 F

Poor resistance to hydrocarbons

Can be compounded to remain soft, which allows seals to work with a very low amount of force or pressure

Tougher than silicone

With a temperature range of – 55F to + 225 F, nitriles (NBR) are also used, although less frequently, for miniature pneumatic applications that do not require extremely high temperature resistance or excessive hydrocarbon resistance. Nitriles have the advantage of a relatively low cost.

Additives, such as Teflon, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2 ) or graphite, may be used to address issues such as tackiness and the co-efficient of friction of a given rubber.

Custom rubber molding firms develop proprietary compounds of the proper elastomer and necessary additives for the application at hand and provide in-house mixing and compounding to ensure material quality and consistency.

Operation #2: Precision tooling for tight tolerances

Components for miniature pneumatics are both small and complex, requiring a custom rubber molder to be able to design and produce the precision molding tools that can handle extremely tight tolerances. The rubber molder also must have the technology to control and meter small amounts of rubber during the molding process.

Integrated components of rubber bonded to metal and rubber bonded to plastic are frequently used in miniature pneumatics. Rubber may be bonded to inserts made of specialty metals. For example, 430 FR steel has magnetic properties that allow it to be used in devices actuated by electro-magnetic induction. Rubber bonded to plastic parts are often used in applications that need to be lighter weight, such as portable devices.

For more information on the bonding process in custom rubber molding, please see our earlier blog articles:

Operation #3: Finishing and cleaning operations

In miniature pneumatics, molded rubber is often used as a seal. Typically, the goal is to create a seal that will hold at the lowest sealing force. To do so, the molded rubber part often must be finished to create a very true, flat surface and to improve the surface texture for better sealing.

For some applications, the rubber molder can achieve the right surface in the precision molding tool itself via a highly polished cavity surface. In other applications, secondary operations for finishing after molding are required, including grinding and lapping. Grinding involves applying an abrasive such as sandpaper directly to the surface of the molded part. Lapping is a more elaborate process involving a steel turntable and a diamond slurry upon which the molded part rotates, which provides an extremely true, flat seal.

Once the part has been finished, the molder will clean the part as needed to remove contaminants, with cleaning methods ranging from water and a mild surfactant to ultrasonic cleaning.

Operation #4: Inspection and quality control

Custom rubber molding firms rely on high-magnification inspection of parts to ensure quality. Often, manual inspection is more effective than automatic inspection technology, as inspectors are trained to identify defects in line with the client’s specifications, while automated technology primarily tracks measurements.

Depending on the client’s requirements, the molder’s team can inspect 100% of parts or conduct inspections on selected samples. The rubber molding technical team will establish the appropriate inspection plan with the client upfront.

Because miniature pneumatic parts operate in difficult and even dangerous environments, ensuring the quality and durability of the custom rubber molded part helps to ensure the safety of the end product and the safety of the end-user as well.